Orange County Legislature to vote on Government Center renovation

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 3:16 PMFeb 7, 2013 at 3:18 PM

GOSHEN - Orange County lawmakers are expected to vote today on a surprise resolution by Legislature Chairman Michael Pillmeier to plan a complete renovation of the Government Center — a repudiation of County Executive Ed Diana’s continuing push to demolish and replace the 43-year-old complex.

If approved, the resolution would mark another stinging defeat for Diana and a victory for Democratic lawmakers and preservationists who have staunchly resisted his construction plans, arguing that the Government Center — an architectural landmark designed by famed modernist Paul Rudolph — could be upgraded much more cheaply.

Pillmeier’s resolution, which would allow the county to bond $10 million to design the renovations, was sprung on lawmakers on Wednesday, only two days after Democrats and Republicans clashed over whether to renovate or embrace Diana’s fallback plan — replacing two-thirds of the building and renovating the court section alone.

Pressure has mounted with an approaching March 12 deadline to decide the building’s fate or risk losing up to $2.7 million in federal funds to repair damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Until Wednesday, neither side seemed to have the two-thirds majority, or 14 of 21 votes, needed to approve bonding.